White House releases official statement on Sen. John McCain after receiving major backlash

After hours of being chastised from officials, veterans groups, and the general public, the White House has returned the flag to half-staff in honor of Sen. John McCain and released an official statement.

Monday, the president released a statement saying, "Despite our differences on policy and politics, I respect Senator John McCain’s service to our country and, in his honor, have signed a proclamation to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff until the day of his interment."

The statement was released after the administration was criticized for not releasing a statement over the weekend, as other agencies did.

Veteran service groups such as AMVETS, American Legion, and the VFW took to social media to first announce their distaste with the executive office choosing to raise the flag only a day after the Vietnam veteran and former POW passed. The organizations proposed the president fly the flag at half-staff until McCain's interment, a common practice after the death of members of Congress.

Trump also announced that he asked Gen. John Kelly, Defense Sec. James Mattis, and Ambassador John Bolton to represent the Trump administration in his absence at McCain's funeral services. While no word yet has released on those who will attend McCain's funeral, CNN has reported that the Senator wanted former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush to offer eulogies at the service and that McCain did not want President Trump present at his funeral.

Vice President Mike Pence will address the public in a ceremony honoring Sen. McCain at the Capitol on Friday.